Eussell ii



(No Model.)

R. H. LEWIS.

HEEL AND SOLE PROTECTOR. v No. 367,718. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

H. .1. I \777 m x2 N PETERS. MM. Wm D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIcE.

RUSSELL II. LEWIS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK RICHARDSON, OF SAME PLACE.

HEEL OR SOLE PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,718, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed November 8 1886. Serial No. 219.263. (N o model.)

had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be used with foot'wear such as boots or shoes-and which is secured upon the heel or sole thereof in order to take up the wear at certain points and to protect and preserve the boot or shoe.

The objects of my invention are to provide a protector or wear-plug for footwear that may be neatly embedded in the body of the heel or sole, and that may be applied at points near the edge of the heel or sole, without weakening or disfiguring the leather, and that will conform to the obliquity of formation of said edge.

To the above purposes my invention consists, essentially, in an oblique wear-plug or protector which has the wearing-surface and the body of the plug relatively inclined, and, further, in the provision of a flange about the upper edge of the plug and of holding-pins upon the upper face of the plug, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a high curved boot or shoe heel formed of layers of leather and provided with my improved wear-plugs, one of which is shown partly in section to show the finish of the wearing-surface thereof. Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, and shows my wearplugs as embedded in the wearing-face of the heel and as provided with small holding-pins upon the upper face. Fig. 3 represents an under side plan view of a heel provided with my oblique wcanplugs. Fig. 4 represents an under side view of a heel and sole of a boot or shoe with my oblique wear-plugs attached.

In the said drawings like numbers of reference designate corresponding parts through out.

Referring to the drawings, the wear-plug or protector (iconsists of a solid body formed obliquethat is the wearingsurfaee 7 and the body of the plug are inclined or oblique to each other. The upper edge of the plug is provided with a flange, 8, extending around it eccentrically, so that the plug may be placed near the edge. The upper face of the plug is provided with the pointed holding pins or spikes 9, which are adapted to bite into the leather to give stability to the plug. The plugs are shown formed with concentric ridges on the wearing-surface to give a roughened finish thereto.

The oblique plugs or protectors 6 are shown as embedded in the bottom layers of leather of the heel 10 and the sole 11. The wear-plugs being oblique require an oblique socket or perforation to be seated in. As clearly indicated, the plugs 6 are secured to the heel 10 by forming the bottom layer, 12, thereof with oblique perforations 13, into which the plugs 6 are forced before the layer is fixed to the heel, so that the upper flanged face of the plug will take up against the adjacent lift or layer 1.4, into which the holding-pins 9 grip. In the same manner the oblique wear-plugs may be placed in the sole of a boot or shoe, as shown in Fig. 4.

I have here shown the oblique plug 6 as formed with a cylindrical body, the major axis or pole of which is clearly shown as oblique to the wearing-surface 7 of the plug, likewise the upper face of the plug. The shape of the body of the plug may be obviously of any cross section and still be within my invention, the essence of which consisting in the relative inclination of the body and wearingsurface 7 of the plug 6, as before described.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by virtue of the obliquity of my wear-plug I am enabled to place the wearingsurface of the plug as near as possible to the edge of the heel or soleand stillhave the sides of the plug surrounded by the leather, since the obliquity of the plug may be gaged to conform to the inclination of the outer faces of the heel or sole, as shown.

I disclaim a protector of a nail-like structure,having a penetrating-shank provided with an enlarged head which is so shaped that when placed upon the edge of a sole or heel the head, will conform to the contour of the finished sole or heel. I also disclai1n,of itself, the holding-flange in a weauplug; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, as hereinbefore set forth, with a wear-plug consisting in a body formed with the pole or major axis thereof inclined and provided with a lateral flange, of a boot heel or sole formed with a socket in conformation to said Wear-plug for securing said plug in position, substantially as and for the purpose herein described. 2. The oblique wear-plug 6, provided with the holdingpins 9, and having-the body and the wearing-surface 7 thereof relatively inclined, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The oblique cylindrical wear-plug 6,h aving the body and the wearing-surface 7 thereof 20 ,flange S and the holding-pins 9, substantially as and for the purposeherein described.

' RUSSELL H. LEWIS. Vitnesses:

J. A. MILLER, Jr, M. F. BLIG-I-I. 

